Illuminable fixture



7 AKApil 11, EgHsANTLBuRY 2,153,595

4:LLUMImam", FIXTURE 5 v Filed Jan. 5,-1958 5 Sheets-sheet 1 .1174"Flcsa FRANcxs H. caHTLEuRY ATTORNEY.

INVENTOR.

HMM

" `April `11, `1939. F. H. cANTLEBuRY 2,153,595

ILLUM;NABLE FIXTURE Filed Jan. 5. 1958 3 sheets-sheet 2 1NVENTOR.FRANcls H. cmnaurav ATTORNEY.

, April 11, 1939 5 Ff H. SCANTLEBURY" 2,153,595

ILLUMINABL FIXTURE `Filed Jan. 5, 1938 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR.FRnNcgs ScANTLEBuRv ATTORNEY.

l c Batented Apr. l1, 1939 s UNlTEDj-STATS# PATENT f l s wenn:v'sant1e1n-y, lx1-miranA N. Ys A 1 l `lipplmtm'a .ramaryifnissa serai'No. issnis The invention relates to illuminable display devices andilluminable ilxtureaqmore pariif `larly to that type in which light raysfrom a suit-I able source of illumination are'permitted to en-` 5 ter'an edge ofone or moretransparent or hyaline y `plates or panels and.byiinternal redaction with` in these plates, setqup theillumination'fof'such f 4indicia ordisplay `matter as may be "applied tothe said plates; as well asto the type in `which I the indicia areilluminated by transmitted light;

andato combinations of the said ltwo systems of illumination. i

It is an object of `the invention lto providefap?" paratus'and fixturesof this, naturewhich may usefulipurposeof general illumination. asciaroom.`

Another meer of the invention resides in tne' provision of a decorativeilluminating l device l whichmaybe applied, for example, Vto the ceilingl of i a room, This samefdevicel may-be modified slightly, if desired,and artistically applied ias;

. illuminable i panels 'to thejwalls;I or, it may be further adapted towhat isknown as cove or` in`' vdirect lighting. In the latter case, theillumination, from an unseen source. is usually established at `aboutthe conjunction of a wall and ceiling, with the free light raysgenerallycaused to be spread over the ceiling, `which acts as areflectingl medium for directing said raysdownwardly into the room.

The invention hasfor an objectfalso, to provide i a novel means of'lighting embodying illumina- 40 vtion both by internal reflection` andby direct and/or reflected light. t A

` The invention has for a further `object to control the color of thefree jlight raysto alford `pleasing `softness of colortones.'

l Still another object is te` provide an illuminated directoryboardsuitablefor use, for example; in

`apartment ho`uses, or as` a building directory, or for advertisingpurposes;` and vto soconstructthe same as to admit of` readyandinexpensive re,-`

`5U placement of individual'panel elements embodied in the `novel board.i

A sun further object resiaesfm the `provision tory board.

of a novel panel `element `for use in such direcf i 55 `In carrying out`the inventiomthe display de-A vice or. illuminable iixture @reprises apluralit' oi.' panel elements carrying the matter to be diss. played,whichmatter may be of anfinformative oradvertisingnature, or purely.decorative, or

both. These panels are of transparent or `hya'line 5 material suchaslgl'assj and are designed, preferably, 'for illumination byinternalreection' of the :matter depicted thereon, although in someinstances backlighting thereof only is contemplated, or both systemsofillumination may be adopted. 19

= The panel elements may be arranged withinfa suitable receiving elementor frame-like holder in such a'. manner as to afford respectivelysuccessive illuminable display i areasl when viewed from the iront oftheholder, and each' area is 16 provided, especiallywith the internal-reection f system,in part atleast withan opaque backing.

Tolfsecure this* successive arrangement.` themnunting fof; the panels is`such that the `saine are located in adjoining parallel planes andare-20 displaced, or have portions thereof displaced,` relatively to oneanother `in the direction of their respective planes.

`Inthejcase of internalv reectlon illumination,

the arrangement is such as tolafford anedge of .25 each` ofj-,the,panels vfor exposure to a lsource Lof light lassociated i with the"panels, Zfor example in the holder therefor. `This:` type lofilluminatedV device, as well as the back-lighted type.is asso` elated incertainmodiflcations with means for 30 diverting a portion of the raysfrom the light source for general illumination of the surroundings. l

"The nature off the invention, however, will best bunderstood whendescribed in connection with 35 the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 showsin isometric projection a bulletin or directoryboard, assetting forth one embodi-f ment ofmy invention. A l Fig. 2 isavertical-section therethrough, taken. 4.0

lon the line 2 2, Fig'.J 1; andillus'trates ythe mounting for theeindividual panels, and the manner in'fwhichthey are Vexposed totheflight rays from a source oiillumination; f

Fig. 3 is a horizontal section,-=taken on the lineA 45 3-3, Fig.' l1,`andlooking inthel direction of the Fig. i -is a fragmentary enlargedsectionall view of a number' of panels and supporting rack there for.`

Fig. Sis a'perspectiveI detail view or a panel showing its position`when-.mounted in a receiving element or supporting member. `portions ofwhich are broken away, as well. as portions of the panel. .v

wall-illuminating 'purposesr Fig. 6 shows in perspective/a panel orindiciabearing unit with its backing plate and apart from the mountingor receiving element.

Fig. 7 isa perspective view of a. modified form of panel.

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary elevation of a decorative lighting unitemploying the novel principles involved; and Fig. 9 is a transversesection thereoir taken on the line i-J. Fig. 8, showing the generalarrangement and relationships of the dierent panels to one anothertofthe source of illumination.

Fig. 10 is a perspective view of 'a room with a different form ofdecorative panel unit which is indicated as niounted'on the ceilingthereof..

Fig. 11 is anuenlarged longitudinal section through the center of theunit shownin Fig. 10, and sets forth the relationship of the variouspanel elementsrto one another and to the source of illumination," aswell as the opaquebacking tp-"-k plied lto` each a panel. t Fig. 12 isafragmentary vertical section showing an illuminated unit `as embodiedina corner bracket, and the arrangement ot the panels with respect toone another and to the iluminating source. r t

the drawings. more particularly Referring to ment of my invention,an'illuminated directory, for example, suitable for use in `apartmenthouses.

As shown, this comprises a retaining case or holder 2li, usually ofmetal, and which may be rectangular or square in shape as the conditionsof design may warrant; and the same is formed. preferably, with a`shielded opening 2i at the top, having a baille 22 mounted thereovergeneral-` ly in an oblique position. The purpose of this opening is toprovide ventilation of the case, 'as well as to permit rayi rom a lightsource, as the electric lamps 2l, `to pass through the opening forMounted on the face of the case. usually with hinges, is apanel-supporting door which embodies a. frame-werk V24, `preferably 5rmetal, cerrying a protective plate-glass panel 2l. Behind n thisplate-glass panel are mounted aV series of indicia-bearing panel membersor units 26; and? behind these are located one or'more of the electriclamps 23. `The mounting of these indicia.

bearing or display panels will be hereinafter more fully described.

The interior of the case is generally ilnished in a light-reflectingcolor to` enhance the illumination of the matter on the panels; `and thevarious panels are so mounted, in the instant ernbodiment, that an edge21 of each panel is exposed to direct or reflected light rays-from thesource of illumination. To this end, the forward face oi' each panelrests at one edge against the back face of its preceding panel, orrather its mounting, yto form thereby a closure or light seal betweenthe successive panels and prevent the leakage of light rays` over theface of the panels, which would result somewhat in a dimming of theillumination on the panel indicia.

As indicated in Fig. 2, by the dotted lines, some of the rays of lightfrom lamps 23 strike the exposed edge of a glass panel directly. whereasother edges receive the illumination by reiiectlon.

-A transparent or translucent strip 3l runs vertically insidie` the caseadjacent to the panel door;

` whose name t2 appears on the illuminated panel adjacent thereto. Inline with the tenants name and the apartment number is a pushbutton 3lintended to sound a signal in the apartment noted, as is wellunderstood. The apartment numbers Il on the vertical strip are intendedto be illuminated by light from the interior of the case passing throughthe vertical strip.

Referringto Figs. 4 and 5, 40 designates a panel-supporting member orholder which is welded or otherwise permanently secured to verticalupright members 4| and 42. which upright members in turn are secured tothe door along its sides and run generally the vertical length of thecabinet, 'I'he panel-supporting number 40 e affordsioilset rack elementsfor mounting a pluthel member asthe spring is compressed or released;

Secured to a set of the springs 43, oi whic there are usually tworespeciiiIeLYlDllg 'the Sides of each frame,- is a panel carriercr slideholder p 45 which may be solid or as a framewithopening to register witha corresponding rack opening. Fig. 1 thereof, there is indicated. las,one embodi- The holder is provided also with one or more lugs 4G whichareused todraw it against the spring 'pressure .when it is desired toinsert the indicia- Vbearing unit. The latter consists of an assembly oftwo plates, the first being an opaque metal plater` 41 havingbackwardly-directed lugs 148 which engage the member 4|l to establishits positionk when inserted; It `has further lugs 49 which are` bentover and hold an indicia-bearing.

hyaline plate 50 to the plate 41. The said plate 41 is opaque andgenerally black, although any dark color may be satisfactorily usedthereon.

The plate 50' is generally of glass, preferably clear glass, although itmay be of any suitable cold. The term indicia" is understood to includea translucent panel etched over its `entire surface.

It will 'be seen by this overlapping construction that theindicia-bearing unit may readily be slid into or out `of position inthe'panel assembly at will; and, when removed, the backing plate will beurged forwardly yby the springs 4l and, if solid, will close the opening5I created by the withdrawal of the indicia-bearing unit. In the case ofthe open frame, as shown; a filler plate (not shown)V may be slid intoposition in the panel-supporting member in place of a removed panel.This will blank the opening; and the illler, if desired, maydisplaysuitable legends or designa-,for example. printed upon its exposed face:Av unit orilller will be resiliently held in positionin. the holderagainst inturned lateral anges 52 and 53 of the upright'members 4| and42, respectlvely,and supported on a ledge 54 of the panel-supporting,member 40.

As indicated more clearly in Fig. 4, the series of individual panelsorindicia-bearing units overlie-oneanother and with at least one edge ofeach indicia-bearing plate exposed for the entrance of light rays, Forexample, the lower edge of the one unit is located in front of andoverlies slightly the upper edge of the unit immedi-l ately below it,while its upper edge lies behind the unit immediately above it. That isto say,

the elongated units which are shown as located in parallel planes aredisplaced to a more or less extent, in a direction transversely of theirlengths,

or in their planes, withl reference to `one yanother.

The novel arrangement of the indicia-bearing units set forth permitsalso their individual and easywithdrawal for such corrections andsubstitutions as may be desired. Moreover, the units are of such anature that they may conveniently be modiiied as to the matter to bedisplayed and at relatively low cost. it being necessary merely toprovide a new plate 50, bearing the desired matter, and the backingplate 41 therefor, the

i `whole affording a convenient unit for shipment,

if necessary, and ready for insertion into the holding rack at thedesired location.

The novel rack mounting for display units affords also a convenientarrangement for indicia-bearing units designed to be illuminatedaccording to the so-called back-lighting" system. When this system isused, a different form of indicia-bearing panel is employed, as setforth in Fig. 7. As shown in this figure, the backing plate or frame 55has an aperture 56 in thecentral' portion thereof. y In frnt of thisframeis mounted an indicia-bearingplate 51 which may be'of glass,Celluloid, Wax paper, or any transparent or translucent material; or,`if 1 desired, the indicia may consist of a series of Vperfcrationsforming the lettering in a plate of. any suitable opaque material. Whenthe units are thus designed for illumination by transmitted light, theindicia 58 will be light-transmitting and the field 59 will be opaque orat least of such a degree of opacity as to form a contrast between theindiciaand said field when lighted. However, if perforations were usedto pass light from the interior of the cabinet, it would be necessary toprint the in` dicia on a background (not shown) for daylightreading.Perforations in such c ase would generally beV made within the bars ofthe letters composing the indicia. Y 1

For accuracy and convenience in assembling the panels, certain lugsV 50are provided on the frame 55. These lugs are bent over plate 51 thussecuring the proper relationship of the -frame 55 and the plate 51 andconstituting a complete panel unit. i,

These back-lighted plates when assembled are inserted intov or Withdrawnfrom. the rack in the same manner as described for the edge-lightedpanels. v

The novel overlying `or displaced arrangement of panel elements to forman illuminated unit ci display areas'in different planes also lendsitself readily to room illumination fixtures and art designs' embodyinga great variety of. light effects. Thus, reference being had to Figs. 8and 9 oftheA drawings, vlil designates a metallic frame or supportingmember with hollownportion for a plurality of hyaline plates or panelelements. This frame is intended to support a series of hyaline platesaround the wall of a room, which plates may be variously formed `to setu p an illuminated. decorated artistic border affording'beauti- Suchborder can also be employed, for instance, along the front of andunderneath the toplrail of a bar, and in combination witha similarborder running along the upper parts of cafe or restaurant walls,whereby artistic room decoration is present construction,

is indeterminate, and depends entirely uponhow much wall coverage may bedesired inachieving the lartistic decoration desired. It may be usedalso as a'decorative panel for rooms in the home and to affordindirectillumination thereof..

The frame 6i supports various hyaline plates or panel elements 62, 63,and 64; and, in the particular instance shown in the drawings, thesepanels are of. triangular form, one panel extending 'over the other, sothat a portion only of' each panel is exposed to display the desiredornamentation or indicia which is preferably etched orsand-blasted`thereon or` otherwise arranged for optical contact with theexposed surfaces, preferably the rear surface. Each one of these panels,as shown `in Fig. 9, is backed with an opaque sheet 55, `65, and 51,respectively, and extending over the entire back areas` of therespectivepanels. The purpose. off-these opaque sheets is to exclude the entranceof any light into the hyaline panels `from the rear, and-to accentuatethe illumination the indicia will receive through the edge thereof;

'I'his is effected by exposing theupper edges of these panels in a lightchamber 68 provided in the present embodiment in the upper portion ofthe frame 5l, and in which chamber is located a suitable lamp or lamps59.` As this type of ilxture is of indeterminate length, it is moreadvantag'eous to use long tubular lamps positioned lengthwise throughthe` light chamber in' the frame to give as near as possible an unbrokenflood of light in said light chamber and over the exposed edges of allthe hyaline-plates in the um@ f j l.

' The particular embodiment shownin` Figs. 8 and 9 illustrates,'alsogwhat mightb'e called a border well comprising a channel 10 runningdown from the light chamber 68 behind the plate assembly andv forming avhorizontally directed bend 1|below the panels. This bend is shown in theform of a trough edging the various panel assemblies in the unit in a.'triangular saw-tooth -manner.` The interior of this channel 10 isgene'rally highly polished so as-to reflect vthe light rays coming intoit and, onI account of the rounded bend 1I, gives the effect'of a bar oflight completely edging the unit. g

This bar of light may be aiected with respect. to its color by theinterposition of color screens 12 within the channel, which colorscreens may vary in color throughout the length of the unit, if desired,to seiI up a changing color scheme.

When this lunit is mountedlowmenough along a wall, further decorativeeffects can be achieved by mountlngin the top of the frame moldedtranslucent ornamentsor bars 13. These ornaments will be illuminatedfrom the interior Aof the frame directly from the lamp 69, and coloreffects may be had by the interposition of a color screen 1l mounteddirectly below the base of the ornament through which the light rayspass.-

Further ornamentation can be applied to the face of the lightchamber ina similar manner by providing therein translucent openings as shown at15, Fig. 8. These openings may be ornamental in design and backed `upwith frosted or colored glass or other translucent material 15' and asmay be desired.

With further reference to the frame 5I, in general construction thiswill be of metal formed to` receiveandretain panels as shown. In the aunit is shown wherein the panels are pendant from the light chamber andl for mounting this frame on: the wall as this is vusually done whilepanels are removed and the frame attached tothe wall by screwsthroughits back wall. `'I'he edgesoii the panels 02, i3, 4and 64 whichare exposed to the light mayif desired, be coated with a transparentscreen of coloring matter that will, as is well understood, cause thelight rays entering therethrough to impart'cclor tothe indicia in thepanels; or, it withoutindicia and wholly etched, to present the dierentexposed portions oi the panel elements illuminated in various colors.

A further application of displaced decorative panel units is set forthin Figs. 10 and 11, in which panels are shown as mounted on the ceilingof a room as an indirect illuminating unit. In this instance, vthepanels are illuminated from a centrai light source, lthe rays from whichspread `in opposite directions striking the exposed edges o'f respectivesets oi panel elements so thatrthe iight may enter the said panels andyilluminate the indicia thereon. Such rays as donot enter the panelsescape along the ceiling as the `unit is displaced somewhat therefrom;and they act to illuminate by direct rays of light a considerable,

yrays from said light source not used in illuminating the panelsbealllowed to spread along the ceiling for illuminating purposes. Suchpanel decorations need by no means be'conned to the ceiling. They arejust as applicable tothe side walls of a room, and the illumination ofsuchv walls by the free rays from the light source would eilect just asbeautiful and `harmoniousa lighting effect as if the unit were mountedon the ceiling.

In the particular design shown in Figs. 10

and l1, 80 indicates the light source which may be 'a light oi anypreferred shape. In practice it has been the custom .to use one ormoreordinary electric lamps mounted in the ceiling 8| ot a room 02 andover the center of the .decorative illumination unit. If more than onelamp .are used, it has been the practice vto group the lamps, althoughgood results are obtained if the lamps are spread out behind the panelunit instead of grouping. Itis all a matter of taste and effect desired.

With further reference to these figures, 83 indicates a translucentcenter panel -whichvis used in some cases to give a spot-light orflood-light effect directly downwardly, as indicated by the brokenlines. This eti'ect would be used mostly, for example, where a table Ilis located such as altares indining rooms, or as a card table. Theeffect fthenproducedisailoodflight enect on the table,

the color eiiect inthe panelsy -90,inclusive, and a softroomilluminating action from the direct rays vof light `escaping frombehind the unit and illuminating ythe ceiling -0 I The sectional view,Fig. 11adords a better -idea ofthe unit and shows the panels lying in aframe-work or straps 9| suspended from the ceiling and providinga-seri'es oi supporting steps 92 in which the respective panels areretained. 'I'his -frame, of lcourse,\does notvcover the entire face ofany of the ypanels but Aprovides for exposed yareas upon which are thedesigns. v-It is to this end of a skeleton nature and generally isplaced.

at the edges of the unit, oran intermediate strap may berused in casethe span of the panel is of such a nature 'as to require further supportfrom theceiling. vAtits endathe straps of the frame may be turnedupwardly to the extent of the `desiredvdisplacement from theceiling andalso bent overzto anord attaching lugs.

In this lilgure is* also shown the respective opaque backing vmembers,0l-09 associated with veach panel, the purposeof 4which has alreadybeen explainedj-jlhwillybe noted, however, that the opaque-.backing hasbeen omitted l,from the backof .translucent;panel 0I asithis isthe'panel that .permits lightjto pass 'through forA the pur- `poseofiiooci/ligming. ."This ilgur'e illustrates,l --bymeanstof arrows, thedirection of the light rays. from ,the "lightsource 00, and shows alsotheedgesof the panels exposed -thereto and the clearance space betweenthe entire unit and the ceiling, whereby the ceiling illumination isachieved. v

In the showingfof the `ilxture as a ceiling unit, the same is set up asa purely horizontal fixture in'whichthe panel elements oi' the fixturespread ,from either side of the illuminating source at an angle o! 180.For corner iixture, this angle can bechanged to 90; and. in fact, oneside of the panelling can be eliminated altogether, if

so desired, having the panel elements extend in one direction only.Furthermore, the panelling in .such a fixture need not be limited to twosets fof panels extending in diil'erent directions, but

additional groups of panelling may be setv up extending out radiallyfrom the central illuminating means'in as many sets of panelling as thedesign desired may dictate.

Fig. l2 illustrates a further modification of the 'panel unit, the samebeing shown in angular form. In this particular embodiment, the'lightsource |00 is shown mounted in the angular portion or corner' ofthe unitframe |0I. This unit `is intended to be mounted at the junction of thewall and the ceiling, and due to its form as a right angle, vants asboth a wall light and ceil- -ing flight through light rays emanatingfrom the vcoricealedxlamp located behind `the illuminable panels |02which follow the angular configuration of the frame. The ilgure showsprincipally the general form that may be used with such a unit;

-and the frame-work Ill supporting the panels is generally of a plateformation dependent upon `the-richness of the unit and vmay be of artiron or bronze, or of any metal vor other material that ,maybe deemedsuitable.

and the ceiling. The sides o! these frames are purpose of illuminatingthe panels, as is indicated by the arrows.

One form of` applying the design or indicia to the panels, especially asa ceiling and wall panel unit, is through the medium oi' Sandblasting oracid etching.` By this means, the design is cut v into the surface andto an extent to catch readily the light that passes into the glass panelthrough its edge, thus illuminating the design by internal reiiection oithe rays, while the rest of the panel that is not etched is notilluminated at all but appears dark. being backed by opaque material.Much the same effect is produced when the panels are merely painted orthe designlprovided in optical contact with a panel, except that theeffect of illumination is not quite so brilliant and pleasing as whenthe design is deeply etched; but any applied design in optical contactwill illuminate to a. certain extent, particularly when applied to thereverse side of the glass so that the design is actually seen throughthe glass. Y

When an etched design is used. the entire de- Vsign may also bepigmented with an enamel. The

purpose in doing' this is to render the design more legible when thepanel is not lighted; and, fre- .A quently, in order to enhance thebeauty" oi the cold or unlighted panel, a properly contrastingbackground is utilized. In most cases,it is customary to use' an opaquebacking on^t`he panel. Generally, this backing-haabeen black. but it isby no means vital that black be` established as a necessary color forthis backing. Therefore, in order to produce pleasing results in thepanels when cold, a backing of any subdued color, such as deep blue,purple, warm brown, maroon, etc., is frequently used. 'I'his color isusually selected to be harmonious with whatever color the design mayhave been pigmented with, or which. may

have been printed or painted on the panel. As a general rule, thesecolors will be made to further harmonize with the appointments andcoloring eiects in the room in which they are set up.

Thus, while there may be, for instance, an old ivory design against4 aroyal blue background when the panel is cold, this blue eiectv willdisappear when the panel is illuminated at night and the background willbecome devoid oi color, or black, while the design will show brilliantlyin its pigmented color. Or, further, if the exposed edge of the glasspanel be treated with a transparent color, the light entering throughthat exposed edge will illuminate the design with the color that hasbeen applied to the edge. Thus, it will be seen that whereas thedaylight combination may be a design in blue and ivory, the night orilluminated eilect will be ablack ileld and whatever color has beenapplied to the panel edge for the design. This diversity oi' color inthe panel relieves monotony and sets up an entirely dierent aspect tothe room; but which color, nevertheless, may be so selected as toharmonize with theappointrnents and color source to the room ceiling bymeans of suitably colored screens interposed between the illuminatingsource and the ceiling or walls. These screens ing softness of colortones which contribute s0- much to the atmosphere of, a room.

a I claim: a i

l. An illuminable xture, comprising a panel supporting holder. aplurality of stepped hyaline panels having illuminable indicia andmounted therein to aiord successive illuminable display ,areas whenviewed from the front of the holder,

each area being provided with an opaque backing, and said panels beinglocated respectively in contiguous parallel planes and withtheirrespective display areas displaced relatively to one another and with acorresponding edge of each panel exposed, and a source of lightassociated with the panels in the holder for providing illumination oi'the illuminable display surfaces of said panels by internal reflectionof the light rays from said source entering through the said exposededges.

. 2. Anilluminable' fixture, comprising a panel supporting holder, aplurality of stepped hyaline panels having illuminable indicia andmounted therein to atiord successive illuminable display areas whenviewed from the front ot the holder, each area being provided with anopaque backing, and said panels being located respectively in contlguousparallel planes and with their respective display areas displacedrelatively to one another nally of the holder other rays of the sourceof.

light.

3. In an illuminable device: a succession of light-transmittingelements, ailording respective longitudinally-displaced areas bearingilluminable indicia with opaque backing. and located in contiguousparallel planes with corresponding edges exposed. a source of lightcommon thereto, invisible from the front of the device and so locatedwith respect thereto as to permit light rays therefrom to pass throughthe exposed edges of said elements.

`i. In an illuminable device: a succession of light-transmittingelements, affording respective longitudinally-displaced areas bearingillumina-` ble indicia with opaque backing, and located in contiguousparallel planes with corresponding edges exposed, a source of lightcommon thereto.

invisible from the front of the device and so located with respectthereto asto permit part of the light rays therefrom to pass through theexposed edges or said elements. and reflector means to' direct other`rays from said source externalLv of the device.

5. In an illuminable device: a successionV of light-transmittingelements, affording respective longitudinally-displaced areas bearingilluminable indicia with opaque backing, and located in contiguousparallel planes with corresponding edges exposed, an associatedtranslucent panel, a source of light commonthereto, invisible from thefront of the deviceand so located with respect thereto as to permit partof the light rays therefrom4 to"pa`ss through the exposed edges. and

other rays from said source to back-light said f translucent panel.

6. In an illuminable device: a Asuccession oi light-transmittingelements, ailording respective longitudinally-displaced Aareas bearingilluminable indicia with opaque backing, and located in spectivelylocated in contiguous planes and displaced with respect to one another,a plurality of hyaline panels mounted in the lateral panel-supportingmeans, bearing illuminable indicia and aii'ording successive illuminabledisplay areas with a corresponding edge of each panel exposed and eacharea being provided with an opaque backing, and a source of light in theholder associated with all of the panels for providing illumination'ofthe illuminable display areas thereof by internal reflection of thelight rays from said source entering through their said exposed edges.

8. An illuminable nxture, comprising a panelsupporting holder withlongitudinal window and with laterally extending panel-,supporting meansaffording stepped windows adjacent said window, respectively located incontiguous planes and displaced with respect to one another, a pluralityof hyaline panels mounted in the lateral panelsupporting means, bearingilluminable indicia and affording successive illuminable display areaswith'a corresponding edge of each panel exposed and each area beingpro'vided with an opaque backing, together with an indicia-bearing panelclosing the said window, and a source oi' light in the holder associatedwithA all of the panels for providing illumination of the illuminabledisplay areas 'thereof by internal reflection ot the light rays fromsaid source entering through their said exposed edges, other rays fromsaid source serving to back-light the indicia of the window-closingpanel. i

9. An illuminable wall-nxture, comprising a panel-supporting holder withlaterally extending panel-supporting means aiiording steppedwindowsrespectlvely located in contiguous planes and displacedrelatively to one another, a plurality of hyaline panels mounted in thelateral panel-supporting means, bearing illuminable indicia andaffording successive illuminable display areas with a corresponding edgeor each panel exposed and each area being provided with an opaquebacking, means to secure the holder to a wall to displace the sametherefrom and -ail'ord a lateral opening between the wall and thestepped panel-supporting means, and a source of light associated withall of the panels for providing illumination of the illuminable displayareas thereof by internal reection of the light rays from saidsourceentering through the said exposed edges.

10. An illuminable wall-nxture, comprising a panel-supporting holderwith `window and with laterally extending panel-supporting meansailording stepped windows respectively located in contiguous planes anddisplaced with respect to one another. a plurality of hyaline panelsmounted inv the'lateral panel-supporting means, bearing illuminableindicia and affording successive illuminable display areas with acorresponding edge of each panel exposed toward the windowprovidingportion and each area being provided with an opaque backing, togetherwith a panel closing the said window, means to secure the holder to awall to displace the same therefrom and allord .a lateral openingbetween the wall and the stepped panel-supporting means, and a source oflight associated with all of the panels Io'r providing illumination ofthe illuminable display areas thereof by internal reflection of thelight rays from said source entering through the said exposed edges,other rays from said source serving to back-light the window-closingpanel.

11. An illuminable directory lixture, comprising a housing with forwardaperture, 'a frame associated therewith to nt the aperture and aiordinga rack of backing members respectively located in parallel planes anddisplaced relatively to one another, slide-holders adapted to be carriedby the respective backing members in front of the same. slides ofhyaline material bearing illuminable indicia and held by the respectiveholders, the corresponding edges of the diierent slides being exposedtoward the interior of the housing, and a source of light located withinthe housing for providing illumination of the slides by internalreilection of light r'ays from said v source entering through their saidexposed edges.

12. An illuminable directory fixture, comprising a housing with forwardaperture, a door swingably associated therewith to iit the aperture andailording a rack of backing members respectively located in parallelplanes and displaced relatively to one another, slide-holders adapted tobe carried by the respective backing members in front of the same andyieldingly urged in the direction of said aperture, slides of hyalinematerial bearing illuminable indicia andheldby the respective holders,the corresponding edges of the din'erent slides being exposed towardAthe interior of the housing, and a source. of light located within thehousing for providing illumination of the slides by internal reilectionof light rays from said source entering through their said exposededges.

13. An illuminable directory fixture, comprising a housing with forwardaperture, a frame movably associated therewith to nt the aperture andaffording a rack of backing members respectively located in parallelplanes and displaced relatively to one another, slide-holders adapted tobe removably carried by the respective backing members in iront of thesame, slides of hyaline material bearing illuminable indicia and held bythe .respective holders, the corresponding edges of the different slidesbeing exposed toward the interior of the housing, and a source of lightlocated within the housing for providing illumination oi the slides byinternal reflection of light rays from said source entering throughtheir said exposed edges.

14. An illuminable-directory nxture, comprising a housing with forwardaperture and top opening, a frame associated therewith to nt theaperture and aording a rack oi' backing members respectively located inparallel planes and displaced relatively to one another, slide-holdersadapted to be carried by the respective backing members in front of thesame, slides of hyaline material bearing illuminable indicia and held inthe respective holders, the corresponding edges oi the diierent slidesbeing exposed toward the mounted therein provided with supporting meansarranged in step-like vertical sequence immediately behind the opening,a series of indicia-bearing panels mounted in the supporting means.

'visible through said opening, the said panels being disposed to eachother in parallel planes and in vertical sequence, and a source ofillumination within the cabinet behind the said panels.

16. An illuminated directory board, comprising a cabinet having aforward opening, a closure element mounted thereon and adapted to affordaccess to the interior of the cabinet. said closure element having atransparent window and being-provided with supporting means arranged instep-like vertical sequence immediately inside the closure element, aseries of indicia-bearing hyaline panels mounted in the supportingmeans, visible through the said window` and adapted to be illuminated byinternal reflection, the said `panels being disposed to each other inparallel planes and in vertical sequence and having an edge of eachpanel unobstructedly exposed to the interior of the cabinet, and asource of illumination within the cabinet behind the said panels,

light rays from which pass into said hyaline panels through the exposededges thereof.

17. An illuminated directory board, comprising a cabinet having aforward opening and provided with an interior light-reflecting portion,a closure element mounted thereon and adapted `for access to theinterior of the cabinet, said closure element having a transparentwindow and being provided with supporting means arranged in step-likevertical sequence immediately inside the closure element, a series ofindicia-bearing hyaline panels mounted in the supporting means,- visiblethrough the said window and adapted to be illuminated by internalreflection, the said panels being disposed to each other in parallelplanes and in vertical sequence and having an edge offeach panelunobstructedly exposed to the interior of the`cabinet. and a source ofillumination within the cabinet, light rays from which pass directly andby reection from the said lightreecting portion into said hyaline panelsthrough the exposed edges thereof.

18. An illuminable slide member for an illuminable directory fixture,comprising a panel of hyaline material provided with illuminableindicia, and a holder extending over the back of the .panel havingdiscrete integral and foldable retaining means extending forwardly overthe front thereof to retain said panel to the holder, and being providedwith integral attaching means extending backwardly from the holderwhereby to position the latter in the directory fixture.

19. An illuminable slide` member for, an illuminable directory nxture.comprising a panel of hyaline material provided with illuminableindicia, and a holder of opaque material extending entirely over theback of the panel having discrete integral and foldable retaining meansVextending forwardly over the front thereof to retain said panel to theholder, and being provided .with

integral attaching means extending backwardly from the holder whereby toposition the in the directory ilxture.

20. An illuminable slide member for an illuminable directory fixture,comprising a panel of hyaline material provided with illuminablelndicia, and a holder of opaque material extending entirely over theback of the panel and bottom edge thereof and having lugs bentforwardly. from its side and top edges and over the front of a panel toretain the panel to the holder, and being provided with further lugsextending backwardly from the upper edge of the holder whereby tosuspend'the latter.

21. In combination: an illuminable xture adapted for association with awall, means to secure the same to the wall in displaced relationlattership thereto to afford an opening between said wall and fixture, thelatter comprising a lighttransmitting member bearing illuminableindicia, and a source of light associated with the fixture and screenedby the light-transmitting member thereof, part of the light raystherefrom illuminating by internal reflection solely the indicia of saidmember and other rays spreading through the said opening to illuminatean area about said ilxture.

22. In combination: an illuminable fixture adapted for association witha wall, means to secure the same to the wall in' displaced relationshipthereto to afford an opening betweensaid wall and nxture, the lattercomprising a succession of light-transmitting elements afordingrespective longitudinally-displaced areas bearing illuminable indiciawith opaque backing and located in contiguous parallel planes withcorrespending edges exposed. and a source of light associated with thexture and screened by the backing of said light-transmitting elements,part of the light rays from said source of light passing through theexposed edges of the light-transmitting elements to illuminate solelythe indicia thereof and other rays from said source spreading throughthe said opening to illuminate an area f about said nxture.

23. In combination: an illuminable fixture adapted for association witha wall, means to secure the same -to the wall in displaced relationshipthereto to afford an.opening between said wall and. xture. the lattercomprising a lighttransmitting memberincluding an element bearingilluminable indicia and atranslucent element,

and a source of light associated with theihlztureA and screened by thelight-transmitting member

